Cattle on Feed Report     10/24  14:10

No Cattle on Feed Report Due to Shutdown; Private Estimates See 
Oct. 1 Cattle on Feed Down 2%, Placements Down 9%

By DTN Staff

                      USDA Actual   Average Estimate*      Range

On Feed Oct. 1            NA             98.1%        97.4-98.4%
Placed in September       NA             91.3%        88.1-94.0%
Marketed in September     NA             96.2%        93.0-97.2%

* Estimates compiled by Dow Jones.

By ShayLe Stewart
DTN Livestock Analyst

OMAHA (DTN) -- USDA didn't release its Oct. 1 Cattle on Feed as 
originally scheduled on Friday amid the ongoing government 
shutdown. That doesn't have much effect on the market today but 
will mean that the industry will be watching closely for next 
month's report on Nov. 21. 

As mentioned in my preview comments, the "estimated" report 
figures from private analytical firms showed the same story the 
market has seen in the past months: On-feed totals remain about 
steady with a year ago, as cattle are spending more time on 
feed. And placements are lower, as there is a historic low in 
the U.S. beef cow herd, and the border remains closed between 
U.S. and Mexico amid ongoing concerns about New World screwworm. 
Marketings were also estimated to be slightly weaker, as packers 
are wanting to slow up the fed cash cattle market. 

It's not likely that the report's absence will have a negative 
effect on the market on Monday. But it will mean that whenever 
the next report is shared, the industry will pay closer 
attention.